Golf

Golf has been a popular sport played across the English countryside for hundreds of years. Scotland was responsible for inventing the modern game, but since the late 19th century both countries have shared the hosting of The Open Championship, or simply ‘The Open’.

The Open Championship is the oldest of the four men’s major championships, which sees the world’s elite professional golfers compete at these prestigious annual tournaments.

The tournament is played during July on a links course in either England or Scotland.

The first Open Championship held outside of Scotland was at the Royal St George’s Golf club in Kent, England in 1894.

John Ball was the first Englishman to win The Open in 1890

England’s Nick Faldo won a hat trick of Open Championships between 1987-1992

The oldest player to win the tournament was Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke in 2011

The winner of the prestigious tournament is awarded with the legendary ‘Claret Jug’

England will host consecutive Opens for the first time in 2011 and 2012